Page 117

As I walked through the rooms filled with art and sculpture, I felt like they were whispering secrets of the world to me.

“Do you sense they’re talking to you when you walk through these rooms by yourself?”

“Yes,” Attikus said. “I also sense the messages from the creator.”

He walked up to an abstract paintingwith bold colors and powerful brushstrokes. With both hands on the cane, he studied the painting. “This a ten-million-dollar painting that captures the chaos of the artist’s mind. Kenzi Kyoto was a brilliant physicist but also an artist. He had dementia at a later age. But during that time, he created some of his best work.”

“His mind traveled beyond its confined boundaries,” I said. “Society’s expectations and family values can condition us to a certain way of thinking. He was freed from his mental grasp.”

Attikus walked back to me and touched my face. “He could capture moments of liberation. There’s a genius to that. It’s powerful and priceless.”

“That’s why this piece is ten million dollars.”

“Sometimes the price doesn’t match its true value. A seasoned art collector would understand that.”

“Do you own it?”

“Yes.” He glanced around. “There is art here borrowed from other museums, but I own this one.”

We ambled by a hallway that was closed off.

“What’s in there?”

“That room belongs to Orion. He leased the space to store some of his collection.”

I nodded and followed Attikus’s lead to the stairwell.

“You don’t want to take the elevator?”

“The stairs are fine.”

Although he was still using his cane, his walk had changed since I first met him. When we got to the first floor, I gestured to his right leg. “Is your leg getting better? I don’t see you limp anymore.”

“Magic happens when you’re in love.” His eyes gleamed. “You’ve healed me. I’m allbetter because of you.”

“All better?” I walked around him, examining him like a doctor.

“You’ll understand in a moment. Follow me.”

We walked past the Employees Onlysignand passed several offices.

“This is my office.” He gestured to a spacious room with his name on the metal plate.

As we continued, Agnes walked out of her office, saw us, and smiled. She wore navy overalls and carried a toolkit in her hand.

“Something broke?” Attikus asked.

“One of the wires from a painting broke, so I fixed it.” Agnes turned to me. “Hi, Nessa. How are you?”

“Excellent. Thank you. You’re so handy.”

“If you ever need maintenance help, you call me.” She walked up to me and whispered. “Or if you ever want to renew your vows. I’m always available.”

I smiled. “Noted.”

We continued down the hallway until we came to a door with a metal plate that read Maintenance.Attikus opened it and strode in.

“Are you going to repairsomething?” I asked.